Fyi Miami

NAP HITS AIRWAVES: Reality Networks Inc., which provides managed broadcast content services, has become a tenant in the Network Access Point, or NAP, of the Americas in downtown Miami, moving the NAP for the first time into the broadcast industry. Reality will place equipment in the Network Access Point, run by Terremark Worldwide, on a five-year contract with a minimum value of $9 million that makes the NAP of the Americas Reality Network’s exclusive US location, Terremark announced. Among its customers, Reality provides broadcast managed content WHDT, a high-definition station in West Palm Beach.

TRANSIT EXPANSION: Miami-Dade Transit officials said tracks that will serve a new Palmetto Metrorail station at Northwest 74th Street and the Palmetto Expressway will be linked to the main Metrorail line between May 9-12, with minor delays at all stations resulting. The $87.7 million Palmetto line is to capture expressway commuters heading into downtown Miami and is slated for completion in spring 2003.

TOURISM LINKS ABROAD: The next Miami Today International Roundtable will focus on the visitor industry’s links abroad at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast session May 17 in the JW Marriott Hotel, 1111 Brickell Ave. Scheduled panelists include Stuart L. Blumberg, president and CEO of the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, and Miguel Southwell, assistant director for business development with the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department. RSVP. Details: Techy Fernandez, (305) 358-2663.

EMPOWERMENT GOALS: The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce empowerment zone group is holding a goal-setting workshop from 8-10 a.m. May 17 in the chamber’s conference rooms at ballroom level, 1601 Biscayne Blvd. The session is to help the group get organized for the chamber’s forthcoming goals conference May 31-June 2. Reservations are required. Details: Yulonda Darden, (305) 577-5424.

SMALL BUSINESS: Jerry Haar, director of the Inter-American business & labor program at the University of Miami, is featured speaker at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and US Small Business Administration’s 2002 Small Business Week Awards luncheon from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. May 7 in the Chapman Conference Center, M-DCC Wolfson, 245 NE Fourth St. The program includes a small business trade fair and three concurrent panel discussions on small business financing & contracting; e-commerce & entrepreneurial development options and emerging markets & trade trends. Details: Nitza Escalera, (305) 577-5441.

HOME BUILDING: The Florida Home Builders Association said 21,710 building permits for single-family residents were recorded in Florida in January and February. That compares to 17,340 in the same months in 2001. Barbara Revels, president of the Florida Home Builders Association, cited low interest rates and stock market instability among reasons. "Many consumers planning to build homes later in 2002 have decided to take advantage of the current mortgage interest rates," she said, while some investors consider buying homes and real estate "a viable option" due to "the volatility in the stock market."

ABLE WORKERS: The Business Leadership Network of the Able Trust, or Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens With Disabilities, is offering a CD-ROM of profiles of more than 1,200 US college students with disabilities who are seeking summer internships or employment after graduation. More than 90 of the candidates are from Florida, said publicist Karen Knapp. Details: (888) 838-2253 or abletrust.org.

PERFORMING WORKS: The Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs plans to showcase works commissioned for the Performing Arts Center of Greater Miami at noon May 7 in the Stephen P. Clarke Building, 111 NW First St. Organizers said the show would feature works by Jose Bedia, Gary Moore, Anna Valentina Murch and Robert Rahway Zakanitch intended for public spaces in the center’s ballet opera house, concert hall, studio theater and plaza for the arts. The display can be seen from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through July 3. Details: (305) 375-4634.

TEACHER TALK: Union Institute & University, 16853 NE Second Ave., North Miami Beach, named Henry L. Brown III speaker at 2002 commencement exercises Saturday in the Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott. Mr. Brown, who teaches 7th-12th grade math at the Hallandale Adult Community Center Alternative School in Hallandale Beach, was named by Burdines as Florida teacher of the year and was one of four finalists nationally for US teacher of the year. About 40 adult students are to get bachelor’s degrees at the ceremony. Details: (305) 653-7141.LUNCH WITH HEART: Switchboard of Miami will host its 12th annual Heart of Miami luncheon at 11:30 a.m. May 9 in the JW Marriott Hotel, 1111 Brickell Ave., under the banner, "Heart of a Hero." Publicist Mark Trowbridge said this year’s Switchboard award recipients are the Urban Search & Rescue Teams of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami. Features include a silent auction and a raffle for a Carnival Cruise Lines weekend vacation. Cost is $75. Details: (305) 358-1640, ext. 103.

BAR POWER: The Florida Bar is presenting its annual Wealth Protection Conference, "Power of Asset Protection," from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 10 in the Hyatt Regency, 400 SE Second Ave. Miami lawyer Denis Kleinfeld, a principal for The Kleinfeld law firm, serves as event chair and will talk on "Is Asset Protection Legal and Ethical?" Other conference topics include "Uncle Sam Wants to Know: Update on critical civil & criminal tax compliance issues" and "Offshore Trusts: When you want to do it the right way!" Cost is $145; $160 for members of the Tax Section and $95 for students. Details: Michelle Masciaga, (305) 724-1062.

JULY EXPO: The North Dade Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding a business expo from noon-8 p.m. July 27 in the Aventura Mall. Booths are $100. Details: (954) 214-9400.